As SafeTrack Begins Saturday, Norton’s Bill Rerouting Hazmats a Further Step to Enhance Metro and Rail Safety

WASHINGTON, D.C.—As the region prepares for Metro’s SafeTrack safety overhaul, beginning this Saturday, the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) said her bill to reroute trains carrying certain hazardous materials from selected high-threat urban areas, including the District of Columbia, is a further step to enhance safety along Metro lines. Metro tracks in certain areas run within 10 feet of freight rail tracks. The recent derailment of a CSX train carrying sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride and ethanol occurred next to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station and forced the station to close. Norton said the derailment pointed up the interconnected relationship between various modes of transportation in the D.C. region. Following the derailment, Norton visited the derailment site, met with CSX officials, and was briefed by Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Sarah Feinberg.

Norton gave CSX credit for several years ago voluntarily rerouting the shipment of certain materials that are toxic by inhalation, poisonous by inhalation, or explosive from high-threat urban areas. However, as Norton said in introducing her bill, “Ethanol, which is flammable, still travels through big cities, and even within a few blocks of the U.S. Capitol.” Therefore, Norton said that her bill is still necessary, and said she is encouraged about the bill’s chances because similar language previously passed the House as part of the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007.

Norton’s full introductory statement is below.

Statement of the Honorable Eleanor Holmes Norton on

Introduction of the Save Our Communities from Risky Trains Act of 2016

Ms. Norton. Mr. Speaker,

In light of recent train derailments across the country and ongoing transportation security threats, I rise to introduce the Save Our Community from Risky Trains Act of 2016, which directs the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to find ways to the greatest extent possible to reroute trains that are carrying certain hazardous materials from selected high-threat urban areas, including the District of Columbia. Just this month, 16 cars of a CSX freight train derailed in a densely residential neighborhood of the nation’s capital, disrupting Metrorail, passenger rail, and freight rail service and putting families at risk. Among the derailed freight train cars, cars carrying sodium hydroxide, calcium chloride and ethanol – which is flammable and led to a Metrorail shutdown – spilled. The neighborhood was lucky that there were no injuries, but the continuing threat to the safety and security of urban communities is clear.

In 2007, the House passed the Rail and Public Transportation Security Act of 2007, which included my amendment to protect the District and similar communities nationwide from dangerous hazardous material shipments by mandating that federal regulations and penalties be developed to increase security and safety for the shipment of these materials through high-threat urban areas. My amendment was not included in the final bill signed into law. While freight companies have begun working with DOT to voluntarily reroute the shipment of certain materials that are toxic by inhalation, poisonous by inhalation, or explosive from these communities, there is no federal law requiring them to reroute the materials.

This bill would require the DOT Secretary to issue regulations to require enhanced security measures for shipments of security-sensitive materials. The bill also requires railroad carriers to use the most secure route and storage pattern to avoid moving certain hazardous materials by rail through selected high-threat urban areas. These security sensitive materials include a highway route-controlled quantity of a Class 7 (radioactive) material; more than 25 kilograms of a division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 explosive; more than one liter per package of a material poisonous by inhalation; shipment in other than a bulk packaging of 2,268 kilograms gross weight or more of one class of hazardous materials for which placarding of a vehicle, rail car, or freight container is required; and select agents or toxins regulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

High-profile derailments in North Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, and Canada demonstrate the need for this legislation. Ethanol, which is flammable, still travels through big cities, and even within a few blocks of the U.S. Capitol. This bill will protect our communities from the risk created by trains carrying hazardous materials.

I urge support for this bill.